The second of two Bengals third-round picks, Jefferson adds speed and athleticism to Cincinnati’s LB corps ... Played three seasons (2014-17) at Texas, seeing action in 34 games with 30 starts, before entering the NFL draft after his junior season ... As a junior in 2017, was named Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Big 12 (coaches and AP), second-team All-American (AP) and a Butkus Award (nation’s top LB) semifinalist ... Career totals at Texas of 233 tackles, including 25.5 for losses and 12 sacks, along with six pass breakups, two FFs and a FR.

Career transactions: Drafted by Cincinnati in third round of 2018 NFL Draft (78th overall) ... Signed with Bengals on 6-21-18.

Head coach Marvin Lewis says: “With Malik Jefferson, you’ve got another linebacker that can really run, is really physical, and he’s 230 pounds already. These last couple linebackers (we drafted), when they got here, they were 228, and he’s already 230-something. So you’re talking about guys that are going to be NFL-size guys very quickly. We liked that about him.”

Linebackers coach Jim Haslett says: “He was a five-star athlete coming out (of high school). He’s a big kid, at 6-2, 243 pounds. It adds to what we’ve done the last couple of years with Nick Vigil, a linebacker who can run, and Jordan Evans. This was another guy who ran a 4.5. He’s got great speed. He’s got great size and good position. He’s a three-year starter at Texas. He was a captain as a junior, and then came out early. He’s got a lot of upside to him.”

College highlights: Spent three seasons (2014-17) at Texas ... Played in 33 games, with 29 starts ... Totaled 233 career tackles, including 25.5 for losses and 12 sacks, with six pass breakups, two FFs and a FR.

2017—Started all 12 games ... Named Big 12 Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year, as well as first-team All-Big 12 (coaches and AP), second-team All-American (AP) and a Butkus Award (nation’s top LB) semifinalist ... Totaled 110 tackles (led team), including 10 for losses and four sacks ... Posted double-digit tackles in six of 12 games, and led team nine times ... Posted 11 tackles, including two for losses, at USC, and was key part of holding Trojans to 1.9 yards per carry ... Logged six tackles, including a 12-yard sack on fourth down, in win over Iowa State, and helped defense hold Cyclones to just 10 rushing yards ... Notched 10 tackles, including two for losses and a half sack, in double OT win over Kansas State ... Led team vs. Oklahoma with 11 tackles, including a sack of Baker Mayfield ... Logged career-high 14 tackles vs. Oklahoma State ... Posted 10 tackles vs. TCU.

2016—Played in 11 games, with nine starts ... Named second-team All-Big 12 (AP) ... Totaled 62 tackles, including 8.5 for losses and 5.5 sacks, along with three pass breakups and a FF ... Logged eight tackles (tied for team lead), including a sack, in win over Notre Dame ... In win over Baylor, logged 10 tackles, including 2.5 TFL and two sacks.

2015—Played in 11 games, with nine starts ... Named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Freshman All-American (Football Writers Association of America), and honorable mention All-Big 12 ... Totaled 61 tackles (second on team), including seven for losses and 2.5 sacks, along with three pass breakups, one FF and one FR (returned for a TD) ... In collegiate debut at Notre Dame, finished second on team with nine tackles, including 2.5 for losses ... Earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording six tackles and two sacks vs. Oklahoma ... Had season-high 11 tackles, including one for a loss, along with a FF at West Virginia.

High school: Attended Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas ... Considered by multiple outlets to be the nation’s top LB prospect ... Logged 81 tackles as a senior, including 16 for losses and six sacks, along with two FFs and four blocked kicks ... First-team 5A All-State (Texas Sports Writers Association), first-team Parade All-American, and recipient of 2014 High School Butkus Award as the nation’s top prep LB ... Played in 2015 Under Armour All-America Game ... Played DB as a sophomore, before moving to LB as a junior ... Also a member of the baseball and track and field teams.

Personal: Hometown is Mesquite, Texas, in Greater Dallas ... Member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in fall of 2016 ... First name is pronounced “muh-LEEK.”